Linear position sensor
First Claim
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1. A sensor for sensing the linear position of a moveable object, comprising:
- a housing defining a longitudinal axis and first and second cavities;
a wall separating the first and second cavities;
at least one magnet positioned within the first cavity in a relationship generally co-linear with the longitudinal axis of the housing, the magnet generating a magnetic field having a magnitude and a direction, the magnet being adapted for movement in the first cavity in response to movement of the moveable object;
at least one magnetic sensor positioned within the second cavity in a relationship spaced from the magnet and the longitudinal axis of the housing, the magnetic sensor sensing the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet and generating an electrical signal that is indicative of the linear position of the magnet and the moveable object and, wherein the magnet is an elongated magnet adapted for movement in the first cavity of the housing in a variable horizontal spacing relationship relative to the sensor.
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Abstract
A sensor used to sense the position of an attached movable object. The sensor can be mounted to a pneumatic actuator. The sensor includes a housing that has a pair of cavities or pockets separated by a wall. A magnet carrier is positioned within one of the cavities and a magnet is coupled to the magnet carrier. The magnet carrier is coupled to the moveable object. A magnetic sensor is positioned in the other of the cavities. The magnetic sensor generates an electrical signal that is indicative of a position of the movable object.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A sensor for sensing the linear position of a moveable object, comprising:
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a housing defining a longitudinal axis and first and second cavities; a wall separating the first and second cavities; at least one magnet positioned within the first cavity in a relationship generally co-linear with the longitudinal axis of the housing, the magnet generating a magnetic field having a magnitude and a direction, the magnet being adapted for movement in the first cavity in response to movement of the moveable object; at least one magnetic sensor positioned within the second cavity in a relationship spaced from the magnet and the longitudinal axis of the housing, the magnetic sensor sensing the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet and generating an electrical signal that is indicative of the linear position of the magnet and the moveable object and, wherein the magnet is an elongated magnet adapted for movement in the first cavity of the housing in a variable horizontal spacing relationship relative to the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A sensor for sensing the linear movement of a moveable object, comprising:
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a magnet carrier adapted for movement and defining an interior elongated bore; an elongated magnet located in the interior elongated bore of the magnet carrier, the magnet generating a magnetic field and also adapted for movement; and a sensor opposed and spaced from the magnet and adapted to sense the magnetic field generated by the magnet, the horizontal spacing and distance between the sensor and the magnet being variable in response to the movement of the magnet. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An actuator and sensor assembly, comprising:
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an actuator housing; a sensor assembly coupled to the actuator housing, the actuator housing and the sensor assembly together defining an interior cavity, the sensor assembly including an integrated circuit sensor; and a magnet adapted for movement in the actuator and sensor assembly and to produce a magnetic field with a magnitude and direction; the integrated circuit sensor being adapted to sense a change in the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field in response to the movement of the magnet and to determine the linear position of the magnet and, wherein the actuator and sensor assembly define a longitudinal axis, the magnet being positioned in a relationship generally co-linear with the longitudinal axis and the sensor being positioned in a spaced relationship from the longitudinal axis and the magnet and the spacing between the magnet and the sensor in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis is variable in response to the movement of the magnet. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification